Casting apparatus



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,118

F. EHRMANN CASTING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec 4, 1928.

' 1,694,118 F. EHRMANN CASTING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ramnarcn annum, on srurreanr-rnunnnacn, ennum, nssreuoa rdnoimn'r BOSCH nxrrauensnnnsonarr, or s'rur'reaar, Gamma cns'rnre arrauarus Application fled June 25, 1927, Serial No. 201,456, and in Germany January 17, 1927.

This invention relates to casting apparatus and in articular to rotary casting machmes in Whic 1 molds for various articles to be cast are mounted or arranged on rotar tables,

the molds being opened and close during the rotation of the parts, the cast articles being removed I therefrom and the molten mass being injected into them, the cast articles removed therefrom also at the proper stages of the movement of the table.

With the known casting machines of this type the casting molds and the devices for opening and closing them are arranged rad1- ally with respect to, the axis of rotation of the machine upon a rotatory table. This arrangement requires a large diameter of the table so that the horizontally movablecasting molds and the o crating members for them are accessible 0 y with difiiculty, espe- 0 cially as regards the parts locatednear the middle portion of the table. The casting molds are 0 en and closed by a common device forme generally by a curved guide.

Owing to these circumstances the casting machines of this kind have been mostly confined to the manufacture of castings of a single kind or type for one machine so that these machines could be commercially utilized to advantage only where large numbers of one and the same article or casting were tobe produced.

In order to obviate these drawbacks my invention consists in so combining and arranging the castin molds of such a machine and the coordinat l devices for o ening and closing these molds with each 0t er in such a way that evei'y such aggregate or group is arranged axia or substantially parallel with respect to the axis of rotatlon of the machine. Owing to this arrangement the several aggregates or groups of the casting molds are readily accessible at all points. By such arrangement it is made possible to provide each mold with a closing device which is independent of all other molds. Under my invention, the closing devices of all' these molds can at the same time be connected with a driving device common to them all.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1, is an elevation partly in vertical section of a casting machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine, there being shaft 7.

shown, however, in this figure, for the sake of simplicity, only one of the casting molds;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine showing the casting mold carrier in an oblique position, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a device for opening and closin a mold.

The casting molds are attahed to a'frame which is arranged to rotate on and around an upright standard 1. This frame consists of a horizontal ring 2. connected by oblique stays 3 with a foot bearing 4. To this bearing or support is firmly connected a bevel gear-wheel 5 which meshes with another bevelgear-wheel keyed orotherwise secured to the driving shaft 6 of the machine.

The ring 2 forms a su port for a plurality a of radially arranged s afts 7 which pass through the suspension points of the casting mold carriers and are driven simultaneously by the intermediary of a device carried by the standard 1. .This device consists iof a pulley 8, a worm-gearing 9 and a cog-wheel 10 with which mesh cog-wheels 11, one se-' cured to the inner end of each shaft 7. In

order to supply air or a gas for cooling, its

well as for eating the casting molds 12, the standard 1 is provided with bores 13 and 14 from which branch off tubes 15 and 16 connected by flexible tubes or hoses 17 with the castin molds. This arrangement renders .it possib e to cool and heat the, molds. either all together or singly. For feeding the heating or cooling me feed, pipes 133 and 144, respectively, are provided, as shown.

I The casting molds 12 are in two parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,and they are attached to frame-like. carriers 18, each of which'is connected with a bearing member 19 and turnable with respect to a radial axis on a The mold carriers, being thus pivotally mounted on the frame comprising ring 2, stays 3 and foot bearing 4, can be swung into an oblique position and be fixed in the same by bolts 20 engaging holes 21 (see Fig. 1) arranged in a circular series in a bearing 22 mounted on the frame of the machine (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Each bolt is provided with a grip 23 and can be withdrawn by grasping the grip. By the arrangement thus described each casting-mold group can be swung in a peripheral vertical plane, that, is to say a plane tangential to the 111111130 the bores 13 and 14, I

vEach spin .in one or the other directionby means of a threaded spindle .26 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

left-handed thread, one or each plate 24 of a mold. For driving the spindle there is provided on it an encircling sleeve 27 which carries cog-wheels 28 and 29, oneat each end, and can be shifted upon said spindle but not turned thereon, being keyed or s lined on said spindle for this purpose. The cogwheel 28 is firmly secured to the sleeve 27 of e shaft 7, is rotated in such a direction that the mold is opened. The. wheel 29, however, sits loosely upon the sleeve 27 and is connected by an elastic -friction clutch 31 with the sleeve 27 when this is shifted downwardly. This arrangement is advantageous for obtaining an elastic closing of the mold. For shifting the sleeve'27 longitudinally for the purpose of throwing the cog-wheel 28 (R29, respectively, into gear, with cogwheel 30, a hand-lever 32 provided with a counterpoise 33 is provided. This. handlever is maintained in its middle position by springs 34 housed in a cylindrlcal casing provided with a longitudinal slot for the passage of said lever 32. In order to close or open the casting mold, the lever 32 is moved downwards or upwards so that either the cog-wheel 29 or the cog-wheel 28 is caused to mesh with the cog-wheel 30 of the driving shaft 7. The lever 32 is provided with yielding detent means comprising a. yieldirigbolt or "spring-catch 35 which engages a stop or recess 1n either end position of this lever whereby the latter is retained at each end of its movement. Firmly connected with each hand-lever is av forked 'arm" 36 connected movably at 38 with a head 37 (best shown in Figs. 3 and 4) arranged on' sleeve 27.

In. order to effect an automatic openin of the casting molds after a certain period of time the following device is provided:

Near the upper end of the sleeve 27 is arranged and firmly secured in place a thread-- edpiece 39 engaged'by anut 40. The nut is, however, ordinarily prevented from turning by mjeans of a verticalguide-bolt 41 and it is combined with other parts .in the following manner to form a tripping device for the lee 26 has a ri ht-handed and a andilwhen it meshes with the cog-wheel30 -two abutment members 46 and 47' can be adjusted and secured in their adjusted positions by screws or equivalent means. A lug f'rojecting from the hand-lever 32 carries a olt 48 also engaging the slot of the rod 45 and extendin between said abutment members 46 and 4 The manner of operation of the device is as follows: F

Supposing'that the lever 32 of any one of the aggregates or casting-groups be moved upwardly. Having arrived in its upper end-position it is held fast by, the yielding detent means comprising the spring catch or bolt 35 engaging the corresponding stop or recess, and the cog-wheel 28 is thereby caused to mesh with the cog-wheel 30 of the continually rotatin shaft 7.' Thereby the threaded spindle w ich isprovided'with a right-hand and a left-hand thread is turned in that direction which causes the o ening of the corresponding mold. While t is rotation, in which the sleeve 27 and the threaded member or nut 39 participate, takes place,

.1 he nut 40 and the arm 42 move upwardly .upon said member 39. Thereby the bolt43 is causedto move upwardly in the curved slot of the double-lever 44 and when it has arrived at the end of'the slot, the lever 44 is moved so that it depresses the rod 45 (see Fig.3). The downward movement of rod 45 is transmitted to the hand lever 23, because the abutment. member 46 is thereby pressed against the bolt 48, thusforcing lever 32 downward- The elastic catch 35 is thereby released from the stop, so that the handlever can now be automatically movedback into its inoperative middle positionfby the springs 34. If desired, the elastic catch may be actuated also by hand. a

In practical operation the machine is rotated slowly in a'horizontal plane by means of the shaft 6 which is driven by any suitable source of power. The groups or aggregates arranged radially wlth respect to the axis castings-of various sizes and shapes can be produced at the same time on one and the same machine.

Instead of employing mechanical means for opening and closing the casting molds, other means, such as electrically, pneumatiof rotation; (axis of the standard 1) are con--,

opening and closing the molds, arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the machine, and means for adjusting each of said groups to a position oblique or inclined with respect to said axis.

2. In a rotary casting machine, a rotatable frame in combination with groups,

P com'prisingcasting molds and means for opening and closing the same, said groups being mounted on the frame substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and turnableon a radial axis and means for swinging each of said groups on such radial axis to a position oblique or inclined with respect to said axis of rotation.

3. In a casting machine, a frame for supporting the casting molds and parts for operating them, said frame comprising an upper annular portion, a lower foot-bearing and stays connecting the upper portion and the lower bearing, in combination with a standard engaging and supporting the bearing, and means for rotating the bearing on the standard. e

4. Inthe combination set forth in claim 3, a gearwheel arranged at the lower part of the foot-bearing and power shaft provided with a ear-wheel engaging the gear'wheel' on the oot-bearing.

5. In a casting machine, a rotatable frame in combination with vertical groups, comprising molds and means for operating them, each group being turnably mounted on the frame, independently of the other groups, the operating means for each mold being independent of the other mold-operating means.

6. In a casting machine, a standard, a rotatable frame revolubly mounted on said standard, and molds and their operating means mounted on the frame substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, in combination with operating shafts arranged radially with respect to the standard, means for simultaneously rotating the shafts arranged on the standard, and means for transmitting the movement of the shafts to the mold operating means. I

7 In a casting machine, a mold mounted on the frame of the machine and formed of two parts, a screw spindle engaging said mold and provided with a' right-hand thread engaging one mold-part and a lefthand thread engaging the other, in combination with a double gear-wheel shiftably mounted on .the screw-spindle, a rotary shaft on the machine frame having a gearwheel fixed thereon and means for shifton the frame 0 movement ing the double gear-wheel to cause one or the other of its gears to engage the gearwheel on the rotary shaft.

' 8. In the combination set forth in claim.

7, aJever connected to the double gear-wheel to shift the same from oneto the other position of engagement with the gear-wheel on the rotary shaft, in combination with means to yieldably hold the same in an intermediate position of non-engagement.

9. In the combination set forth in claim 7,

a lever connected to the double gear-wheel to shift the same from one to the other position of engagement with the gear-wheel on the rotary shaft, and means to retain the lever in'each shifting position, in combination with means operated by the rotation of the double gear-wheel -to release the lever from the shifting position and thereby to' release said double gear-wheel from engagement with the gear-wheel on the rotary shaft.

10. In the combination set forth in claim 7, a lever connected to the double gear-wheel to shift the same from one to the other position of engagement with the gear-wheel, on the rotary shaft and yielding means to hold ,sai'd lever in an intermediate position, in

position when the nut reaches the end of its travel in either direction.

11. In a casting machine as set forth in claim 7, a sleeve slidably mounted on the screw-spindle and secured against rotation thereon, a double gear-wheel secured tothe sleeve, and a, lever connected with said sleeve for. shifting the same in one or the other direction. I

12. In a castin machine, a mold mounted the machine and formed a screw-spindle engaging said of twoparts,

with right-hand thread enmold, formed gaging one moldengaging the ot er, a double gear-wheel shiftably mounted on the rotary shaft on the machine-frame having a gearheel fixed thereon and arranged to mesh with one or the other of the gears of the double gear-wheel, in combination with a lever on the frame, connected with the double gear-wheel, and means for yieldablyretaining the lever at the end of its in either direction, a nut threaded ,on the screw-spindle, and means arranged between the nut and the lever to release the lever from its end sit1on.-.

13. In the com inat'ion as set forth in claim 12, means for yieldabl maintainin the lever for shifting the dou 1e gear-whee in an intermediate position.

14. In the combination as set' forth in and means operated by the nut to release the lever from its upper or lower screw-spindle, a

art and a left-hand thread claim 12, a yielding catch on the operating lever arranged to engage stops or detents on the machine-frame at the ends of its movement, means for yieldably holding the lever in an intermediate position, and means operated b the nut to release the yielding catch as t e nut reaches the end of its travel 15. In a casting-machine a mold mounted on the frame of the machine and formed of two parts, a screw-spindle engaging said mold and formed with a right-hand thread engaging one mold-part and a left-hand thread engaging the other, a double gear wheel shiftably mounted on the screwi spindle, a rotary shaft on the machine-frame having a gear-wheel secured thereon and arranged to mesh with one or the other of gears of the double gear-wheel, in combination with a lever connected with the double gear-wheel, and yielding detent means for holding the lever in position at the ends of its movements, means for yieldably urging the said lever to an intermediate position, a nut threaded on the SiIGW- spindle, a second lever and connections between the same and the nut for tripping said second lever when the nut has reached a predetermined upper orlower position, and.

a tripping device operated by saidsecond lever and arranged to actuate the first lever at a predetermined part of its upward or downward movement, .to release said first lever from engagement with the yielding detentmeans 16. In the combination as set forth in claim 7 a shiftable sleeve encircling the screw-spindle and secured against rotation thereon, one gear-wheel being fixed to the sleeve while the other gear-wheel is connected to said sleeve by an elastic frictionclutch.

. 17. In a catsing machine, a standard, a rotatable frame mounted on said standard, and carrying frames and molds and operating means therefor mounted in said carrying frames, said carrying frame being pivotally mounted on the frame and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, in comblnation with means for turning each group of molds and operating means on its pivotal axis.

18. In a casting machine, a frame rotatable on a vertical axis, in combination with groups, each comprising a casting mold and means for opening and closing the mold, arranged substantially in a peripheral plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the machine, 'each of said groups being pivotally mounted on and turnable into an oblique position with respect to said frame, and independent means for each group for fixing the same in any position of adjustment,

19. In a casting machine, a rotatable frame in combination with a plurality of groups, each comprising a mold and means for opening and closing the'same, motive means for operating the opening and closing means and independent means for each group for coupling each opening-and-closing means with the motive means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRIEDRICH EHRMANN. 

